PHP files with includes returns garbage characters in result to flash.

Here is the problem I am having;
My php file is returning garbage characters to flash, but only if there is an include in the php code.

Example:

PHP Code:

---

<?php

include("any_included_php_script.php");

echo "name=value";

?>

---

returns "%EF%BB%BF%EF%BB%BFname=value"
(Different includes generate different junk characters.)

PHP Code:

---

<?php

echo "name=value";

?>

---

returns "name=value"

I tested using multiple php scripts with multiple includes, both on my testing server and my live server and i consistently get the same results.

Has anyone else had this problem before?
Can anyone recommend a solution to rid the garbage characters from being echoed back to flash?

Out of curiosity what does this print with an include present:

PHP Code:

---

<?PHP
include "somefile.php";
echo utf8_decode("name=value");
?>

---

Thanks for the suggestion,
Still get the same results.

Not 100% sure, I would lean towards it being some setting in your php.ini file but I will have to do some research.